The city of Philadelphia’s LGBT Affairs head, Celena Morrison, and her spouse, Darius McLean, recently found themselves at the center of a controversy. Their arrest, captured on video, has caused a considerable stir, most notably provoking a response from the city’s mayor, Cherelle Parker.
The weekend of March 4, 2024, marked a turbulent period for Celena Morrison and her husband, Darius McLean. A routine traffic stop escalated into a situation that culminated in both Morrison and McLean being arrested. The Pennsylvania State Trooper initiated the stop due to alleged multiple vehicle code violations associated with Morrison’s gray Infiniti sedan.
The incident was recorded and made its way onto social media platforms, sparking widespread public reaction. The video featured Morrison repeatedly identifying McLean as her husband and stating her role as the executive director of the City’s Office of LGBT Affairs. The footage has since been described as ‘very concerning’ by Mayor Cherelle Parker.
Mayor Parker refrained from further comment until the investigation into the incident is completed. The mayor’s office emphasized the need for a thorough investigation before drawing any conclusions.
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Celena Morrison serves as the executive director of Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs. She is believed to be the first openly transgender individual to lead a city office in Philadelphia. Morrison was appointed to her position in 2020 by former Mayor Jim Kenney and remained in the role following the election of Mayor Parker in January 2024.
In addition to his role as Morrison’s spouse, Darius McLean serves as the director of the Arcila-Adams Trans Resource Center. He also holds the position of chief operating officer at a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization, the William Way LGBT Community Center.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police, the trooper involved in the incident had initiated the traffic stop due to multiple vehicle code violations. These reportedly included illegally tinted windows, expired and suspended car registration, and the headlights not being on despite it raining.
Upon the arrival of the green Dodge sedan, driven by McLean, the situation escalated. The driver of the Dodge allegedly became verbally combative, refusing to comply with the trooper’s orders. An attempt to arrest the driver of the Dodge was met with resistance, leading to a struggle that culminated in both individuals being arrested.
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The Pennsylvania State Police have stated that the incident is currently under investigation. The trooper involved has been placed on restricted duty status and will not be on patrol during the investigation. The police have also confirmed that the incident was recorded by a dashboard camera in the trooper’s vehicle.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has not yet made any decisions regarding potential charges. The office has called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into all aspects of the incident before any charging decisions are made.
